Friday, January 30, 2009

Austin Energy to build largest solar power plant in the US

The following article was posted by the Austin-American Statesman newspaper on January 29, 2009.

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Austin proposes nation's largest solar arrayCost of power from 30-megawatt plant raises concerns among city's manufacturers.

By Marty Toohey AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFFThursday, January 29, 2009

Austin could soon have one of the largest solar power facilities in the world.

Austin Energy, the city's electric utility, wants to set aside 300 acres it owns outside Webberville in eastern Travis County for a solar array, which would be built and owned by San Francisco-based Gemini Solar Development Co. Austin Energy would be the exclusive client and pay $10 million a year for 25 years for the power generated by the array.

The facility would open in late 2010 and produce enough energy annually to power up to 5,000 homes.

It would also raise the monthly electricity bill of an average Austin homeowner, who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours, by an estimated 60 cents, according to Austin Energy. And it has generated concern among some of Austin's large manufacturers, who say the plant could raise their bills substantially.

The average monthly electricity bill in fiscal year 2008 among Austin single-family homes was $98.51, the utility said.

The city has already decided to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and the plant would put Austin Energy on pace to meet its goal of getting 30 percent of its power from renewable power sources by 2020, utility officials said.

"We think this is a good project," said Michael McCluskey, Austin Energy's chief operating officer, "and we think this is a very competitive solar project."

Austin Energy already offers to pay part of the cost of adding solar panels to homes and businesses, but the Webberville array would be the city's first large-scale solar project. The facility would have more than double the generating capacity of the nation's largest solar array, which is owned by Gemini Solar and provides power to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. (At least one planned facility, in Arizona, would provide power to a privately owned utility and would dwarf Austin's in terms of power produced).

Even though the Webberville plant would be huge, it would add a relatively small amount of power — 30 megawatts — to the 2,900 megawatts the city can now generate, Solar energy is more expensive than alternatives such as natural gas, nuclear and coal, which produce more pollutants and political objections.

The City Council was scheduled to hear a presentation today on the solar array. But the presentation and a possible vote were postponed at the request of Austin Energy. The council is being asked to wait because of the concerns of several large manufacturers, including Freescale Semiconductor and Spansion.

They told the city's Electric Utility Commission on Monday that they support renewable energy but are concerned about a lack of concrete information about the cost of the solar power, as well as the hit they expect to take to their bottom line. "If the cost goes up for our utilities," said Roger Wood, a corporate facilities manager for Freescale Semiconductor, "our price goes up for our product." Concerns about cost and public process also were raised last year when the city decided to buy power from a plant to be built in East Texas powered by wood waste.

That $2.3 billion deal was approved by the City Council in August over objections from environmental activists and businesses. Complaints centered around a perceived lack of public input, the cost, concerns about the plant's effect on the environment and questions about whether there was enough "biomass" near the plant to provide a steady supply of fuel.

The biomass and solar plants were planned jointly as part of a broader plan, which the city is still refining, for getting 30 percent of its power from renewable fuels by 2020. With the two plants, Austin Energy expects to hit 18 percent by 2012.

Privacy laws intended to protect the contractor's competitiveness prevent the city from releasing the cost per killowatt-hour that Gemini will charge for the power.

But long-time Austin environmental activist Paul Robbins, the author of the Austin Environmental Directory guide, estimates the cost at 16.5 cents per kilowatt-hour — much more than traditional power sources. He based that estimate on the city's total projected bill and the solar array's production capacity.

But Robbins, who is generally supportive of solar power, cautioned that energy production is a complicated matter that makes comparisons between solar and other types of energy tricky.The solar plant would operate only about a quarter of the day and provide energy when the city's demand is highest. By contrast, most fossil-fuel facilities operate around the clock.The cost of solar "is not so bad as it first seems," Robbins said.

Powers, one of the leading figures in Austin's push to attract the semiconductor industry in the 1980s and '90s, says solar energy can help Austin replace the semiconductor jobs it's now losing. He sees several parallels between the semiconductor industry then and the solar industry now.For instance, he said, if Austin can attract solar plants, they would probably be followed by suppliers, which in turn would be followed by companies that make the suppliers' equipment.Austin Energy officials say that unlike natural gas and oil, whose prices are volatile and expected to trend upward, the long-term costs of the solar plant would stay relatively stable.

McCluskey, the utility's chief operating officer, said those terms are appealing because they can give Austin a "hedge" against spikes in fossil-fuel cost. If oil and gas do skyrocket, solar may also become a relative bargain in the future, or at least look less costly by comparison, McCluskey said.

Austin would also avoid pumping 51,000 tons of carbon per year into the air by using the solar array versus an equivalent fossil-fuel powered plant, according to Austin Energy estimates. Carbon emissions contribute to global warming.

The 300 acres proposed for the plant are part of a 2,800-plus acre tract at Webberville owned by Austin Energy. The city has been debating whether to use some of the property for a landfill, but the solar plant is small enough and far enough out of the way that it shouldn't affect the landfill discussions, McCluskey said. Hector Gonzales, the mayor of Webberville and a vocal critic of the landfill proposal, likewise said the solar plant probably wouldn't affect the landfill talks. "It's only one part of the property," Gonzales said. "But it's an idea for it I support."

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Andres Carvallo BIO

Andres Carvallo is an award winning engineer, speaker, author, and executive. Andres is globally recognized by the IEEE as one of the early developers of the smart grid concept and technology. Andres championed Austin Energy's industry leading smart grid program design and implementation from 2003 – 2010 and he architected the Pecan Street Project in 2009. Andres co-authored the best selling book "The Advanced Smart Grid", has received 34 industry awards since 2005, and is a popular speaker and guest lecturer. Andres is currently the EVP of Energy Solutions and Chief Strategy Officer at Proximetry. Andres has over 27 years of experience in the Energy, Telecommunications, Computer and Software industries. Andres has held since 1992 P&L responsibilities and senior executive titles while being responsible for the strategy, development, and commercialization of over 40 products at six start-ups and leading global companies like Philips Electronics, Digital Equipment, and Borland. Furthermore, Andres started his career as a product manager for Microsoft Windows in Redmond, WA.

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How to Run IT as a Business?

It all starts with my focus on the customer as the center of the lifecycle. The Lifecycle rules a discovery, planning, and maturity model process that orchestrates a framework. The framework, called RunITbiz, is made out of the 12 critical elements for Running IT as a Business. The elements are rationalized into demand and supply modules. At the core of the RunITbiz framework is a Service Oriented Architecture that leverages all legacy systems while powering new systems built on new open standards (Web Services, XML, BPEL, etc) including cutting edge Web 2.0 tools (Blogs, Wikis, AJAX, RSS, etc).

My RunITbiz Framework has two main modules. One module focuses on Managing IT Demand as a Business and the second one on Managing IT Supply as a Business. Each module has six critical elements to master. Here are the modules and critical elements:

Running IT Supply As A Business: 7. Enterprise Architecture, 8. Vendor Management, 9. Process Management, 10. Project Management, 11. Service Management, 12. Quality ManagementI wish you great success in your transformation. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to any post in this blog or contact me.

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Computers

Top 20 Geek Blogs

1) Lifehacker - http://www.lifehacker.com/ - Lifehackers' motto says it all: "Don't live to geek, geek to live." This blog offers timesavers of just about every stripe, from Firefox shortcuts to tips from the "Getting things done" faithful.

2) IT Toolbox Blogs - http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/ - IT Toolbox has a number of "in the trenches" IT pros who talk about technology and management issues. There are specialist blogs dealing with security, databases and project management, among other subjects. It's a versatile site.

3) Valleywag - http://valleywag.com/ - Bring in the noise, bring in the snark. Valleywag is for those who believe that the tech industry lives or dies by the scuttlebutt pinging around Silicon Valley. And it's amusing for those of us who prefer that the lotus-eaters of Northern California stick with the dishing and tongue-wagging, leaving the rest of us to get the real work done.

4) Kotaku - http://kotaku.com/ - Kotaku is the snarky, gamer uber-blog. It has everything from reviews and gossip to cheat tips. Just about anything you'll ever need, including which game to buy and how to play it.

5) Danger Room - http://blog.wired.com/defense/ - Wired's military and defense blog writes about some of the coolest and scariest military technologies -- not to mention scandals, debates and other military news. Lots of video and imagery are included.

6) Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/ - Gizmodo's got the scoop on all the latest toys and cool and wacky inventions -- from high-def TVs and coffee makers to booze belts and USB drives. You've got to love a site that publishes photos of a solar-powered bathing suit. Yeah, they also blog about serious technology news too.

8) Techdirt - http://www.techdirt.com/ - Techdirt is a newsy, "tell it like it is" blog that frequently features debates on the hot issues in the Internet and computer fields. Scandals are a specialty. Simplicity is its hallmark.

9) Groklaw - http://www.groklaw.net/ - Groklaw's raison d'etre is needling SCO in its long-running patent fights against IBM and Novell, but the discussion sometimes veers toward other issues that involve technology, intellectual property, and government regulations.

10) Hack a Day - http://www.hackaday.com/ - Want to learn how to add USB to a cheap Linux router? Create a snake robot? How about an XBox 360 laptop? Hack a Day has these basement projects and many more. This site is for the serious techie. At the same time, it's good for a laugh or a new hobby.

11) Engadget - http://www.engadget.com/ - As Coke is to Pepsi, so Engadget is to Gizmodo. It's all about gear, gossip, techish issues and the occasional rant. It's got great product photos, and the editors have access to pre- and early-release gadgetry. Also, some really funny home-made junk. But we prefer Gizmodo.

12) Feedster - www.feedster.com/feedpapers/Technology - Like drinking from the hose. This Web page brings together blog sites about technology, sports, celebrity gossip, food, personal experiences -- you name it. It also offers a blog search feature that allows you to input words or phrases, and it has a very cool RSS aggregator for news feeds. It also injects some great humor into technology news. An all-around great site.

13) Forever Geek - http://forevergeek.com - Forever Geek is a great site with a myriad blogs on diverse topics, from technology and general interest news to movie and game reviews. Definitely a geek paradise. If you want to learn about the upcoming Iron Man movie or read a review of Photoshop CS3, this is the place to go.

15) Smorgasbord - http://www.smorgasbord.net/ - Billed as a site for gadget- and game-loving geeks, this blog also serves up articles that cross over into the political and celebrity news of the day. The combination of entertainment value and tech news make Smorgasbord a top contender.

16) The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) - http://www.tuaw.com/ - TUAW offers collection of independent bloggers -- that is independent but not undecided or uninformed. It's a good source for Apple-related news. The only reason it didn't make the top 15 was its singular topic focus.

17) Elliot Back's blog - http://elliottback.com/wp/ - A self-professed computer scientist, Elliot posts everything from his opinions on why XML sucks, to the Titanic's passenger list and reviews of movies like 300. This site is diverse and well composed, offering great tips on topics such as increasing system performance and blocking spam.

18) Ed Foster's Gripelog - http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/ - There is a new crop of blogs that highlight poor customer service for consumer electronics, bad UIs and outright rip-offs, but Ed Foster has been doing it longer than anyone else. Check out these recent topics: Defective DRM, tricky warranties on plasma TVs and bad mobile phone service.

19) Gadgetell - http://www.gadgetell.com/ - This is a great site if you want to get the latest gadget and game news along with some topical opinion pieces.

20) 4sysops - http://4sysops.com/ - This is a very useful with well-written tips and how-to's for Windows admins.

About Proximetry

Proximetry develops and commercializes AirSync™, a comprehensive communications network and device management software platform for the energy industry. AirSync delivers secure, scalable, closed-loop control, and policy-based management of devices to build and manage large complex networks built upon multiple vendor platforms that incorporate a vast array of communications technologies. AirSync™ provides the essential tools for energy organizations to provision and manage mission-critical devices and networks. Founded in 2005, Proximetry is privately held, headquartered in San Diego, California, and backed by Munich Venture Partners, Aeris Capital, Investec, and Rembrandt Venture Partners. For more information, please visit www.proximetry.com

Siemens on Proximetry

"The challenge to monitor, control, and manage millions of communicating grid devices from multiple vendors continues to grow dramatically as grid modernization drives usage of a few thousand devices to tens of millions,” said Thierry Godart, president of Siemens Smart Grid Division North America. “Our partnership with Proximetry will allow utilities to better manage this vast proliferation of information and make strides in improving grid reliability.”

Itron on Proximetry

"We believe that Cisco and Proximetry’s joint work to integrate dynamic performance management across multiple network technologies is great evidence that the Connected Grid Ecosystem continues to mature positively. Our common vision of a truly open, interoperable suite of offerings that build off of each other will be a success for utilities and consumers alike. It’s not more of the same,” said Simon Pontin, Chief Technology Officer at Itron.

Cisco on Proximetry

“Cisco is pleased to be working with Proximetry and the AirSync solution, which complements the Connected Grid Field Area Network solution with enhanced RF management capabilities. As a key member of the Connected Grid ecosystem in the Cisco Developer Network, AirSync extends the visibility in the Field Area Network GridBlocks with unique performance management capabilities”, said Jennifer Lin, Sr. Director of Product Marketing from Cisco’s Connected Energy Networks BU.

Why is AirSync Better?

1) ALL other NMS/OSS products in the market use only SNMP to provide monitoring and alarms for devices, AirSync supports SNMP and it also uses a lightweight protocol (pre-CoAP) to manage devices with closed-loop control and policy-based functionality via an agent. AirSync’s pre-CoAP protocol solves the disadvantages of SNMP for the Smart Grid (i.e. too chatty, non-stop polling, and no integrated firmware management).

2) All other NMS/OSS products are focused on telecom WAN management only (i.e. routers, switches in telco domain) while AirSync can manage the WAN and its elements, it also can go deeper into the FAN, LAN, and PAN (including the AMI network). Furthermore, AirSync manages all devices hanging on those networks(e.g. electric/gas/water meters, inverters, IDEs, RTUs, Programmable Logic Controllers, premise gateways, premise routers, and sensors in general). It is important to note that All other NMS/OSS products in the market do not manage smart meters and/or any sensors on the edge of a FAN, LAN, or PAN, but AirSync does.

3) All other NMS/OSS products in the market do NOT provide any firmware management capabilities or if they do it is very limited. And they DO NOT support FANs, LANs, and PANs. And they DO NOT provide closed-loop control of any edge devices from any vendor on any network using any topology. AirSync delivers all of the above.

4) AirSync has unique features to manage ALL networks with many configurable enhancements like shaping the traffic and QoS management by having an agent on the device side unlike All other NMS/OSS products in the market which depend only on SNMP and lack such an ability.

Bottom line: All other NMS/OSS products in the market deliver only classical and limited WAN NMS/OSS capabilities. AirSync delivers all that far better and it can also support FAN/LAN/PAN/device/firmware management functions and help manage deeper into all the networks. AirSync has a well-defined NBI that can be used to interface with any NMS/OSS and provide the utility with an integrated management system with the utility's preferred GUI but with all the advantages of AirSync.

Bottom line: All other NMS/OSS products in the market deliver only classical and limited WAN NMS/OSS capabilities. AirSync delivers all that far better and it can also support FAN/LAN/PAN/device/firmware management functions and help manage deeper into all the networks. AirSync has a well-defined NBI that can be used to interface with any NMS/OSS and provide the utility with an integrated management system with the utility's preferred GUI but with all the advantages of AirSync.